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The storms that hit the UK this winter caused the greatest loss of trees since 1987 but the damage could have been worse, the National Trust said.

A fallen tree after the storms that battered Britain. Credit: Sophie Duval/EMPICS Entertainment

Over 50 National Trust sites have been surveyed with, with many gardeners, rangers and foresters saying that the losses have been the greatest in two decades although other sites had little damage.

Extreme weather is likely to become more frequent as the climate changes and there is a need to plan what trees to grow and where to make woodlands more resilient to the changes, National Trust nature and wildlife specialist Matthew Oates said.

The trust said nowhere had been as devastated as it was in 1987 or 1990 but some sites had lost hundreds of trees including valued ancient specimens.

Many trees were uprooted and blown over rather than snapped off, due to the saturated ground conditions.

Emmetts House and Garden, Ide Hill in Kent shortly after the hurricane on October 16, 1987. Credit: Mike Howarth/PA Archive

The storms that the UK endured this winter caused the greatest loss of trees since the "Great Storm" of 1987, the National Trust has said.

Old oak, ash and beech trees have been lost in woods, while specimen trees in parks and gardens have also been damaged as at least a dozen storms swept through the UK from December to February.

Given the extent of the wild weather, which hit the western half of England, Wales and Northern Ireland particularly badly, losses could have been worse, National Trust nature and wildlife specialist Matthew Oates said.

A resident checks his home next to the River Thames in Shepperton, Surrey. Credit: PA

Communities along the River Thames in Surrey should remain prepared for further flooding, the head of flood incident management for the Environment Agency has warned, as more rain is expected to fall over the next few days.

Craig Woolhouse said: "The River Thames is continuing to respond to the recent rainfall.

"River levels will remain high for the next few days and we urge people keep up to date with the latest flood warnings and take action.

"With so much standing water around, we would also remind people to stay out of flood water and not attempt to walk or drive through it."

The Environment Agency has said residents living along the lower reaches of the River Thames in Surrey should remain prepared for further flooding as water levels continue to rise.

The Thames is expected to stop rising today, but it may be some days before the levels are back to normal, it said.

There is also an ongoing risk of flooding from the Rivers Parret in Somerset and the Severn in the Midlands. High groundwater levels mean we are likely to see continued flooding in areas such as the Somerset levels and moors, Dorset and Wiltshire.